Govt. trying to divide opposition and force opinion: Congress on GST

Cornering the Centre over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, the Congress on Sunday alleged that the BJP-led NDA Government was trying to divide the opposition and force its opinion on them.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, put the ball in government's court and said the Congress is ready to ensure the passage of the GST Bill.

"They are just saying that they met with the Congress and had a discussion with them. They want to divide the opposition and force an opinion. They are trying to corner the opposition and demean them. If whatever they are saying they can give in writing.we can sit and think over it and take any decision which is in favour of the nation," he told ANI.

Kharge said the government should sit and discuss the issue with the Congress members of the Rajya Sabha and put forward its opinion.

"Our party president Sonia Gandhi ji and vice-president Rahul Gandhi ji will also put forth their views. But the problem is the Prime Minister and Arun Jaitley are not divulging details of the meeting," he added.

Prime Minister Modi held a meeting with his top Cabinet colleagues last evening to firm up the strategy for the passage of GST Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

The GST has been listed for consideration and passage in the Upper House next week.

The Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha has earmarked five hours discussion for the bill, which seeks to introduce a system for uniform taxation across the country.

The government needs the support of two-third members of the Upper House to amend the Constitution to turn the GST into law.

The Union Cabinet had cleared changes in the Bill earlier on Wednesday dropping one percent additional tax on inter-state sales and providing guarantee to compensate states for any revenue loss in the first five years of rollout.

The GST Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in May last year but is stuck in the Rajya Sabha due to resistance from the opposition.